Sony VPL-VW675ES Review: The Best 4K Projector?

In the last couple of years, more and more 4k front projectors have been developed, which made these products more affordable than they used to be. This is why increasingly more people consider investing in such a unit. Sony, in particular, facilitates an extensive selection of native 4K projectors, whose prices range from $4,000 to $60,000.

Today, we will talk about one of their most popular models – namely the Sony VPL-VW675ES. So, if you’re thinking of getting such a unit, we’ve got you covered in this in-depth Sony VPL-VW675ES review.

But first things first: who should even consider getting this projector? If you are on the lookout for a genuine 4K HDR-capable projector that extracts a lot of detail, it will be difficult to find another unit in the same price range that would battle the Sony VPL-VW675ES. That would explain why this product is almost always sold out.

Nevertheless, it accounts for a significant investment. So, what we’re trying to say is that, if you have a budget of around $20,000, you’re a video enthusiast and you want to enjoy both widescreen and optimal picture quality, you should definitely consider the VW675ES. In addition, if you want a big screen, this might also appeal to you.

However, if you want a massive screen instead, then you might consider investing in the Sony VPL-VW885ES – it is much more expensive, but it can produce up to 2000 lumens, which is pretty impressive.

What features does the Sony VPL-VW675ES offer?

The Sony VPL-VW675ES is an HDR-capable, native 4K projector, which offers notable real-world enhancements regarding performance and technical capabilities. For one thing, the 4096 resolution is impressive; not to mention that its brightness rating is 1,800 lumens. As for the dynamic contrast ratio, it is 350,000:1.

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This is just a quick overview of our Sony VPL-VW675ES review. That being said, let’s drill down into its features, and how these will likely affect your own experience.

Native 4K Resolution Guarantees Lifelike Pictures

One of the most impressive characteristics of this projector is, without a doubt, the native 4K resolution. As already mentioned, it comes with four times the resolution of a full HD – featuring 8.8 million pixels, 4096 x 2160. Thus, whenever you watch a movie, you can say that it is the real deal. It makes movies feel like real life.

To get a better idea of its performance, note that this resolution is the same as the Digital Cinema Initiatives for cinema distribution. In addition, the corner to corner clarity is outstanding, allowing you to watch movies much more closely than you normally would with full HD devices.

HDR Compatibility

Due to the HDR – high dynamic range – this projector facilitates optimal brightness and contrast range. At the same time, you can see that every image is delivered with excellent accuracy and clarity. Even the most avid users out there will definitely appreciate the detail of the images.

350,000:1 Dynamic Contrast

The contrast rating of this projector really contributes to capturing each scene with realism and fine detail. Essentially, in order to accomplish deep and vibrant colours, this projector is equipped with optimal lens iris control and a potent video processor. Therefore, every movie you’ll watch with this projector will feature dynamic contrast for unparalleled realism. We think that contrast plays an important role in capturing the lifelikeness of a movie, which is why we really enjoyed testing this device.

1800 Lumens

The Sony VPL-VW675ES projector allows you to really enjoy movies with the brightness you prefer. So, depending on your preferences, you can customize the brightness level. Thanks to the 280W lamp, the projector facilitates the required brightness level to deliver vibrant, beautiful images on screen up to 300 inches diagonally.

Picture Position Memory

Another important thing our Sony VPL-VW675ES review should note is that you can set the device to memorize your preferred settings. So if you have strict specifications when it comes to watching your favourite movies, you can store them for easy recall. Details such as lens, zoom, and shift settings can be stored for up to five screen formats.

This way, you can quickly switch the settings and watch them in an optimal format. Doing this is super easy and you’ll really enjoy the convenience of this feature in the long run.

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Reality Creation 4K upscaler

You can choose to upscale your DVD movies and Blu-ray discs near to 4K quality. This is thanks to the super-resolution reality creation 4K upscaler that evaluates each pixel in any direction.

In addition, it utilizes a digital signal processing algorithm that maps pixels, in order to improve aspects such as texture, contrast, and colours. The Sony 4K projector really delivers when it comes to detail and colour range, not to mention that the increased brightness and dynamic range are easily observable, especially if you’re into detailing.

Installation Process

Now let’s turn our attention to the installation process. For the most part, we didn’t find the installation process too time-consuming or difficult to follow. The 2.06 motorized zoom featuring a wide lens shit range entails a to-the-point installation process. However, make sure you focus on regulating the position of the projector up to 85 percent vertically and 31 percent horizontally. This way, you’ll enjoy the most out of your new projector.

There’s a manual included in the package, but here’s the electronic version for your convenience.

Compatible with State-of-the-art Technology

Moving on, you should note that the VPL-VW675ES is capable of projecting content at an impressive rate – up to 60 frames per second, and it can do that in 4K. So, the images are characterized by superior realism and colour. I really liked the fact that this unit supports HDCP 2.2 so that I could enjoy state-of-the-art 4K services.

If this is high on your priority list, then this projector is right down your alley.

TRILUMINOUS Colour Technology

This projector captures true-to-life tones and colours, as it comes with TRILUMINOUS colour technology. What does this mean? The triluminous display presents a more diverse range of colours than most TVs. In addition, the colour spectrum is 50 percent larger in comparison to the one facilitated by typical LCD display panels.

The LED light goes through a film of quantum dots in order to produce vibrant colours. In other words, Sony aims at enhancing the colour saturation by using this technology while diminishing colour fading, especially when the screen is viewed from a luminous angle.

Shades that are hard to produce such as emerald green, aqua blues, crimson reds, all these are excellently displayed by the Sony VPL-VW675ES. Thus, both seascapes and landscapes will look much more vivid, while faces will look better too, as the skin tones are faithfully reproduced.

Motionflow Technology

Regardless of what you’re watching, the projector will allow you to enjoy fast-moving sequences and silk-smooth on-screen look. However, let’s explain what the Motionflow technology implies.

This is Sony’s compensation system that contributes to bridging the gap between the frame rate of the material and the refresh rate of the screen. In other words, this technology contributes to creating a more natural and smoother appearance.

Nonetheless, while this is the prime purpose, some people believe that it can look rather unrealistic – that’s because it is quite different from what you usually see at the movies. However, the good thing is that you can turn off the Motionflow technology if it doesn’t appeal to you. Like most things that relate to projector features, it really is a matter of preference.

However, cinema fans are more likely to appreciate this feature.

Advanced 4K SXRD Panels

We need to mention that the advanced 4K SXRD panels really make a difference when it comes to the quality of the blacks. The response rate of 2.5 milliseconds reduces the space between the pixels in order to facilitate a detailed, smooth image every time.

Moving on, the LCD layer is thin, featuring a reflective silicone plate. The purpose of the SXRD panel technology is to separate the white light of the lamp into distinct colours using mirrors. The light then goes in and out of a panel, facilitating an efficient light blocking, which captures deep blacks.

Nine Picture Calibration Modes

Moving on, you might be pleased to learn that this projector comes with nine separate picture calibration modes. They are as follows: bright cinema, bright TV, two cinema film modes, cinema digital, reference, photo, game, and TV. All you have to do is pick the one that you like best.

Aside from that, the state-of-the-art HSV manual colour tuning allows you to further customize your watching experience so that you enjoy ultimate control.

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Pros

• Motionflow and Reality Creation processing are included
• You can adjust the processing depending on your preferences
• Sharp and clear signals, even from lower-resolution sources
• Sleek, modern design
• Manageable size
• Generous setup tools
• Bright, high-contrast engine
• High-quality video processor

Cons

• It does not support the Dolby Vision HDR format
• It accounts for a significant investment

Alternatives: Should You Get a Different Projector?

The fact is: there isn’t a perfect projector that appeals to the needs and preferences of every single user out there. So, one thing we try to do in our reviews is to provide at least one alternative for those who are either sitting on the fence or just don’t link the product.

In line with that, if you find that you admire the features of the Sony VPL-VW675ES but it doesn’t fit into your budget, a decent option would be the Sony VPL-VW285ES. Let’s have a look at its primary characteristics, shall we?

The Sony VPL-VW285ES enables you to enjoy the performance of a genuine 4K device, without requiring you to invest such a large sum of money. That isn’t to say that this unit is on the affordable side; but, in comparison with the 675ES, it is more conveniently priced.

The picture is sharp, clear and the shades of blacks are really amazing. It should be used with a 16:9 screen. Its brightness rating is 1500 lumens, which is pretty great considering the price category. It’s also worth noting that the Sony VPL-VW285ES is capable of doing up to 4K/60 fps at 12 bits and 4:2:0. Since this is above the HDR10 standard, it should work great for most HDR sources.

Essentially, for best results, you should make sure that the output settings match the source of your display. In this price category, the Sony VPL-VW285ES projector is a good option. Its only major limitation is that, if you’re a movie enthusiast, you might be disappointed that you cannot get the widescreen route.

Conclusion

This section brings this Sony VPL-VW675ES review to an end. We hope you have gotten tremendous value from it and you’re better informed about the value you can get or not get from this projector. When it comes to products like this, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all projector that is perfect for everybody. Each user has different specifications and preferences. Also, the space you have at your disposal is different, and so is your budget.

However, all things considered, we do believe that Sony’s VPL-VW675ES offers optimal real-world performance with both low-resolution and 4K sources, which is really impressive.

We will conclude this review by saying that the Sony VPL-VW675ES is a potent, high-quality projector that extracts more detail to your images. This is what makes it stand out from your regular run-of-the-mill 4K projectors. So, if you’re eager to invest in a capable projector, it can be difficult to find one that is better than the Sony VPL-VW675ES Projector – especially in its price range. It’s not perfect, but it comes close to being perfect.

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